[Video] Nikon D4 Video Features Demonstration (Updated)

The new Nikon D4 has some amazing capabilities on paper, and by now most people have seen the amazing video by Corey Rich. The video below demonstrates many of the D4's new video features, including using an iPhone or iPad to control the camera, clean HDMI out onto an external recorder, and selecting the crop modes. Nikon really did this one right, but it looks to me as though that the focus tracking makes the aperture breathe, which would make it unusable during recording. See if you can spot where he knocks the camera over by mistake!

Here's a demo of the D4 working with the new WT-5 wireless transmitter and the iPad.

Mike Wilkinson is an award-winning multimedia director with his company Wilkinson Visual. Mike has been working in production for over 10 years as a shooter, editor, and producer. His passion lies in outdoor adventures, so you can often find him on a trail or mountain top, with his camera equipment and dog in tow.

17 Comments

It's been reported that the codec is H.264, using B-frame compression. While not as good or beefy as I-frame compression, it should be solid (and we need it to fit onto those tiny media cards!) I've read UNCONFIRMED reports of the data rate being anywhere from 20 to 24mbps, but it is not stated on the Nikon site from what I last saw. If someone gets confirmed reports of the data rate, please post it here!

This is the first time in a long time that nikon has me excited about one of their cameras. I wish all of this was going to be in the much cheaper d800 but they have convinced me to drop 6k so I guess they know what they are doing.

I feel the same way. This video cleared up some questioned I had. The only thing I'm still wondering about is if the new battery is compatible with the old ones and if there is a DC plug for this thing seeing as to how I may want to shoot for longer periods onto an external device.

I was honestly on the fence between this and a Scarlet until watching this video. Very excited to get working with this camera!!

Good job Nikon, took you a while but seems like you got it all together nicely!!!

I'm a long time Canon user and I have to say that the D4 excites me much more than the 1Dx does. It seems that they have been listening to the video shooters out there who are often saying they want clean HDMI and audio out for monitoring.

I think if I were looking for a top end DSLR (which I am not), the D4 could be the Nikon to finally make me switch from Canon. I guess we'll have to see what comes forth from Canon over the next couple of months with the long awaited 5D MKiii and possibly 7D MKii...

It seems like they have made up some lost time with the HD video even compared with the not yet released Canon 1DX which doesn't have a clean feed. However, I am still interested to see how well it performs as a photography tool even compared to the now older D3s and the Canon 5D mark II.

Yes with these crop modes and the audio options (audio monitoring esp), I think I have to buy one of these. I usually tell everyone to save their money or spend it one 2 cameras instead of buying the flagship (say two D700s, or a few D300s/7000) but with no other video options I"m going to have to bite on this one. Oh how I wish I had a D4 with me right now!